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A quick timeline of Kim Kardashian's cultural appropriation antics

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TV personality Kim Kardashian attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
TV personality Kim Kardashian attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

In 2019, Kim received backlash from Japanese fans after choosing to call her shapewear line Kimono (now Skims). When she revealed this skin-toned shapewear on Instagram, many fans criticised her for using a name of a traditional Japanese garment.

One follower accused her of butchering Japanese culture, which they pointed out is not her “play thing". The hashtag #KimOhNo started quickly trending. 

READ MORE: Kim Kardashian faces backlash for brazen cultural appropriation... again 

Again in 2019, Kim K blackfished her way onto a the cover of 7Hollywood magazine.

On the cover, she appeared with darkened skin, which prompted much critique on social media where some even dubbed her a "culture vulture in blackface."

Reporting on the uproar this cover caused, The Independent also reminded us that in June 2017, "the reality star also faced blackface allegations after releasing ads for her KKW Beauty contour and highlight kits."  

READ MORE: Vicki Momberg's hair breaks its silence - "I can't be a racist, just look at these cornrows" 

In 2018, Kim had blonde cornrows done, incorrectly (and laughably) calling them "Bo Derek" braids in an Instagram post. In the same year, she wore cornrows to the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards. 

SANTA MONICA, CA - JUNE 16: TV personality Kim Ka
TV personality Kim Kardashian attends the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards at Barker Hangar on June 16, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) 

And this week, the habitual line-stepper has upset the Indian community on Twitter after posting herself in a traditional Indian headpiece (maang tikka) worn only on special occasions. She wore hers indoors for no particular event, over and above the fact she should not have worn it to begin with.

The backlash that ensued has not been gentle, as Twitter users called her out for her repeated disregard about appropriating the cultures of black people and people of colour. 

Kim Kardashian is rather nonchalant about her tone deaf behaviour, and when she is called out, she silently retorts by posting a picture of one her biracial kids.

One is therefore inclined to assume that Mrs West operates on a self-awarded brand of exceptionalism that she thinks grants her impunity on the basis that she is married to a black man and raising children of colour, therefore she cannot be culturally insensitive... by her logic. But it doesn't work that way.

And using people's cultures as offensive props for profit and attention because "outrage sells", says more about one's lack of integrity than it does about their 'marketing prowess'. 

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